13 August 2008

Breaking News of Next Generation Virtual World

LivePlace.com are apparently working on 'City Space' an advanced 3D multi-user virtual world. News is circulating that movie quality graphics and ultra usability in this platform will be available soon. A video is currently also circulating that shows an extremely impressive urban virtual world with photo quality graphics. The game is running on OTOY, the 3D engine that renders graphics in the cloud. The technology allows relatively weak computers (or even mobile phones) to display incredibly detailed graphics comparable to those seen in Hollywood movies.

See the clip:

Although some bloggers are claiming this footage is fake (i.e., not rendered in real time) the video is convincing. If this footage is real and we can expect to see this quality graphics then the implications for psychological immersion are profound. How long before we reach totality and the physical world is augmented by ultra realistic 3D virtual environments?

The video and some of the above text were clipped from: www.techcrunch.com

UPDATE 10th May 2009... It appears that at least part of the rendering footage is from other sources and therefore the credibility of the venture might be questioned. See this original footage as identified by memberdeputydog on VideoSift.com

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This is the personal blog of Milton Broome, the digital avatar of University of Derby Senior Lecturer in Psychology Dr Simon Bignell. The avatar is a proxy for Psychology teaching and research in 3D multi-user virtual environments. I am a Developmental Psychologist by training with a strong interest in Cyberpsychology and Cognitive Psychology.

I teach a range of Psychology modules both to campus-based and distance learners. I lead the final-year course 'Autism, Asperger's and ADHD'; the final year course 'Educational Psychology', and teach on a range of modules across Developmental and Cognitive Psychology.

I led the JISC and HEA-funded projectthat evaluated teaching and research in the 3D virtual world Second Life. I would be pleased to talk with you if you share these interests. Please feel free to comment, subscribe, forward or quote extracts from this blog. I also welcome relevant guest articles.

Contact: Dr Simon Bignell (SL Avatar: Milton Broome) Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Centre for Psychological Research, University of Derby, UK. Email: s.bignell@derby.ac.ukThis is a personal blog and all views expressed here are the opinions of the individual authors at the time of publication and not those of any academic institution.

Virtual Research

SL-Labs is the Virtual Psychology research space in the digital environment 'Second Life' run by the Psychology Department at University of Derby, UK. You can visit this in the virtual world Second Life by clicking on the above image.

PREVIEW-Psych project

The PREVIEW-Psych problem-based learning virtual worlds project. You can visit this in the virtual world Second Life by clicking on the above image.